Real Madrid will look to rebound from their first defeat since January as they continue their 2024-25 La Liga campaign with a home match against Villarreal.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti will be expecting a strong response from his players this weekend after Los Blancos fell short in their 1-0 defeat to Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Jonathan David's penalty, awarded for an Eduardo Camavinga handball, proving decisive. This loss marked the team's first in all competitions since January, following a disappointing Madrid derby last weekend, where they conceded a late equalizer to Atletico Madrid, ending in a 1-1 draw.

While Real Madrid has not been at their best this season, they remain unbeaten in La Liga, with their last defeat dating back to September 2023 against Atletico. Currently, they sit second in the table, just three points behind leaders Barcelona. 

Last season, Madrid defeated Villarreal 4-1 at the Bernabeu, but they have only won one of their last six league encounters against the Yellow Submarine. Villarreal, who will come into this match fresher after not playing since their home game against Las Palmas on September 30, finished eighth in La Liga last season—a disappointment considering they had previously achieved fifth and seventh place finishes multiple times in the past four seasons.

The Yellow Submarine have not secured a top-four finish since the 2015-16 season, but their strong start this year positions them well, currently third in the table with five wins, two draws, and one loss, totaling 17 points. 

Prediction:  Real Madrid 2-1 Villarreal

Real Madrid vs Villarreal stream and TV listing

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